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For a more detailed picture of

our work, including a list of staff, partners,

programs and services, visit www.rvca.ca.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (RideauValleyCA).

Message from the Chair & General Manager2015 was a year filled with many highlights and accomplishments. We started the year with a new Board of Directors and a new

Chair; we said good-bye to some long time colleagues and friends and welcomed new staff members. We celebrated the delivery

of many important projects essential to maintaining and improving the health of our watershed.

We concentrated on providing cost effective programs and services to our municipalities and residents. Our efforts were focused on

keeping the municipal levy low, developing new partnerships and acquiring special funding. We worked with many federal, provincial

and community organizations, the business community and our municipalities on projects that serve to protect our natural resources

and our watershed. Monitoring our waterways and maintaining our rich ecosystems were balanced with meeting the social and

economic needs of our communities.

We look forward to 2016, one where we will celebrate 50 years of conservation in the Rideau Valley watershed. The upcoming year will be a

celebration about Conservation Authorities; how they are nimble, creative and reflect local values and interests in protecting the resources in our

watershed. We are all very proud of our accomplishments and look forward to celebrating them in small, but meaningful ways throughout 2016.

“Thank you” to our staff who have been outstanding in their performance throughout the past year. Their passion, creativity and commitment continue

to impress and keep us moving forward. The support received from our members, municipal councils and their staff, and our many government and

non-government partners is greatly appreciated. Together we have successfully made 2015 a year highlighted by many notable accomplishments.

Lyle Pederson, Chair Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, General Manager

Athens Andy Jozefowicz

Augusta Dale McLenaghan

Beckwith Sharon Mousseau

Central Frontenac Victor Heese

Ottawa Erin Greco

Ed Hand (Vice-Chair)

Pieter Leenhouts

Scott Moffatt

Ralph Pentland

Tom Scott

Clarence-Rockland No member

Drummond/North Elmsley Ray Scissons

Elizabethtown-Kitley Lyle Pederson (Chair)

Merrickville-Wolford Anne Barr

Montague Vince Carroll

North Dundas Gerry Boyce

North Grenville Barclay Cormack

Perth Judy Brown

Rideau Lakes Jeff Banks

Smiths Falls Joe Gallipeau

South Frontenac Pat Barr

Tay Valley Brian Campbell

Westport Gerald Schwinghamer

RVCABoard of DirectorsBoard of Directors

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RVCA

2015

RVCA is one of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities. We are

an environmental protection agency that works closely with

municipal, provincial and federal government partners,

landowners and community groups to maintain and improve

the natural resources in the Rideau watershed. The RVCA

looks to build resilient communities by promoting an

integrated watershed approach — one that balances

human, environmental and economic needs. Our

success is based on local initiatives, watershed

jurisdiction and partnerships in resource management.

Our ongoing priorities are:1. Improve water quality

2. Protect water supplies

3. Manage flood risk and

erosion hazards

4. Restore watershed habitats

5. Increase conservation lands

Your Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

RVCA

2015

Land Management• 2 new land acquisitions of 130 hectares (322 acres)

• $231,000 in donations raised in partnership with RVCF to

offset land acquisition, conservation area development and

stewardship activities

• 36 natural areas totalling 2,800 hectares of conservation land

• 900 trees planted in two conservation areas

• 6 species at risk monitoring or habitat features completed at

five conservation areas (bobolink, butternut, barn swallow,

least bittern, Blanding’s turtles)

• 32 wildlife features monitored at six conservation areas

• 6 maintenance agreements with municipalities or organizations

to support park/land management

• 7 partnership agreements to provide unique opportunities at

six conservation areas

• Completed Eco-Sensitivity Report for Beckwith Township to

assist them with land acquisition in Goodwood Marsh

• Completed trail assessment for Elizabethtown-Kitley Township

Conservation Areas• 10 developed conservation areas

• 62,000 visitors annually

• 14 new (maintenance free) entrance signs

• 5,000 people enjoyed rental facilities at Foley Mountain and

Baxter Conservation Areas (interpretive centres, Baxter river

cabin and group camping areas)

• 42 kilometres of trails maintained for public access

• 8 kilometres of trail upgrades

• 7 new visitor benches

• 500+ hazardous trees removed in public areas

Education• 9,000 students enjoyed

outdoor education

programs at Baxter

and Foley Mountain

Conservation Areas

Conservation Land Management ServicesThe RVCA manages close to 2,800 hectares of conservation lands for the strategic protection of vulnerable habitats and valuable natural resources. This includes 10 developed conservation areas which

are available for public use and enjoyment — providing local communities with affordable recreation, education and tourism opportunities.

CORPORATE SERVICESCorporate Services supports the authority, allowing it toperform its functions in an efficient and cost-effectivemanner. The department is responsible for strategicplanning, budgeting, business improvement, humanresources, communications, member services,foundation support and administration.

• $10 million budget

• 65+ staff

• 22 board members representing 17 of our 18 member

municipalities

• Multiple communications tools — media

releases, newsletters, interpretive signs, displays,

information sheets, webpage and social media postings

• Coordinated and submitted Environmental Bill of

Rights comments on the Conservation Authorities Act

Review Discussion Paper and the Wetland

Conservation in Ontario Discussion Paper

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Chapman Mills Conservation Area

Meisel WoodsConservation Area

Mill Pond Conservation Area

Photo: Simon Lunn

Stewardship ServicesPrograms such as reforestation, landowner incentive programs, shoreline restoration, wetland

enhancement and species at risk support help the RVCA protect and enhance the watershed’s

natural resources. We are grateful to work with private landowners, lake associations, NGOs,

businesses, government agencies and the general public to make direct improvements to the

health of the watershed. Working with others, we divide the task and double the success!

Tree Planting• 5 million trees planted since 1984

• 241,375 trees planted in 2015 with a total project value of $540,855 • $363,730 fundraised to offset planting costs for landowners

• 105 hectares (260 acres) of new forest created

Butternut Stewardship• 17,540+ butternut seedlings planted since 2006 (RVCA searches for healthy butternut trees,

collects seeds, grows seedlings and distributes them to landowners and other clients in

Eastern Ontario)

Shoreline Naturalization • 71 shoreline naturalization projects completed, including 2 bioengineering (shoreline

restoration) projects on private and municipal lands with a total project

value of $130,689 • $66,000 fundraised for projects

• 7,390 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers planted

• 1.89 kilometres of shoreline naturalized and restored

• 184 volunteer hours provided by 88 volunteers

Clean Water Projects• 61 projects approved through the Rideau

Valley Rural Clean Water Program, allocating

$109,304; 20 of these projects were

completed and the remaining are

expected to be completed in early 2016

($27,928 delivered to projects valued

at $251,511)

• 44 projects completed through the

Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program,

total grants of $68,292 delivered to

projects valued at $356,401• 33 projects approved through the Ontario

Drinking Water Stewardship Program in

the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection

Region from 2012 to 2015, allocating

$142,000; 29 of these projects were

completed ($74,000 delivered to projects

valued at $206,500)

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Planning Advisory & Regulatory Services

RVCA

2015

The RVCA believes that sound planning is a

critical part of protecting our land and water.

Our staff bring watershed science, provincial

policies and individual municipal needs

together to meaningfully assist municipal

decision-makers in building and sustaining

local communities. The RVCA also acts as an

approval authority for development on hazard

lands affected by flood, steep slopes or

unstable soil and sensitive areas such as in

and around wetlands and along shorelines and

waterways. Staff also approve the construction,

enlargement or alteration of septic systems

throughout the City of Ottawa and Tay Valley

Township. Septic re-inspection services are

also performed in several municipalities.

Section 28 Conservation Authorities Act• 237 permits issued, 28 pending, 2 denied

• 22 violations

• 117 complaints/occurences

• 134 clearance letters

• 825 property inquiries

Planning Advisory Reviews• 1,015 Planning Act applications

• 1 Official Plan review

• 12 Official Plan amendments

• 110 zoning by-law amendments

• 10 subdivision applications

• 25 condominium applications

• 380 severances

• 358 minor variances

• 108 site plan controls

• 8 Environmental Assessment Act reviews

• 3 aggregate reviews

Septic System Approvals and Inspections• 577 applications for new or replacement

septic systems, 522 in Ottawa, 55 in

Tay Valley

• 50 Part 10 renovation applications in

Ottawa, 20 in Tay Valley

• 324 septic re-inspections completed in

Drummond/North Elmsley (6), Central

Frontenac (24), North Frontenac (37),

Rideau Lakes (77) and Tay Valley (180)

• 42 Part 11 Occurence Reports in Ottawa

and 3 in Tay Valley

• 236 file search requests in Ottawa

Rural Clean Water project —biofilter and settling pond used to

treat wastewater at SunTechGreenhouses Ltd.

Rideau River

Habitat• Jock River Fish Habitat Embayment Creation Project won the Conservation Project of the Year Award

at the Toronto Sportsman Show. Post effectiveness monitoring begins to evaluate the success of the1,000 square metres of new spawning, nursery, rearing, and feeding habitat.

• Otty Lake Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Project installed 49 spawning beds for smallmouth bass, 9 brush piles to provide shelter and feeding habitat, 75 cornerstone at various nests to provide coverfor guarding males and 40 wood duck and swallow boxes; includes 240 volunteer hours

• 1,500 square metres of new, ephemeral wetland constructed adjacent to Remic Rapids on the OttawaRiver in partnership with the National Capital Commission including 1,690 square metres of buckthornremoval, 1,800 square metres of riparian planting, 385 native shrubs and trees planted around thewetland feature, 140 volunteer hours

• 1,600 shrubs and trees planted by 120 volunteers at the Brewer Park Pond Restoration Project. Partnersgathered to celebrate the reconnection of the landlocked Brewer Pond to the Rideau River and thecreation of 16,000 square metres of new functioning wetland and fish habitat.

Beaver Management• Continued partnership with landowners and municipalities to manage beavers and dams on North Branch

of Kemptville Creek and Otter Creek• Beaver and dam removal at Motts Mills to protect the water control

structure; Jebbs Creek at Perth Wildlife Reserve to help maintain flowout of Otty Lake; as well as removals at Mica Mines, FoleyMountain, Otter Lake and Meisel Woods to protect forests,roads and trails

• 9 beaver dam surveys completed on 9 watercourses: Northand South Branch of Kemptville Creek, Otter, Jebbs, Rideau,Marlborough, Kings and Nichols creeks and Jock River

• 32 landowner inquiries about best managementpractices relating to nuisance beavers

RVCA

2015

Butternut RecoveryProgram

Tree planting in the Rideau Valley

Rural Clean Water Program sedimentand erosion control field courseBrewer Park Pond Restoration Project

Aquaticplants

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RVCA

2015

Watershed Science & Engineering ServicesRVCA collects, monitors and analyses watershed information. Understanding our watershed helps us to better manage and protect our resources. Failure to adequately recognize and incorporate the value

of our natural services into decisions about the use and management of watershed resources will reduce the net benefits that societies receive from watersheds. RVCA provides these services watershed-

wide for its member municipalities at a shared cost. It avoids duplication and allows for effective, efficient and expert products for municipalities.

Source Water Protection• Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan came into effect

on January 1, 2015. Staff provide policy interpretation,

implementation tools and other support to municipal staff to

ensure policies are understood and undertaken to meet

compliance deadlines.

Water Control Infrastructure• Haggart Island Dam on the “Little Tay” replaced with rocky

ramp structure in partnership with the Town of Perth

• Motts Mills Dam replaced with a new earthen berm in

partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada, Leeds Grenville

Stewardship Council and local landowners

• Work began on the Britannia Village Flood Control Project on

behalf of the City of Ottawa

Mapping• 15 kilometres of updated Rideau River hazard mapping

(Hogs Back to Rideau Falls)

Flood Forecasting and Warning• 3 flood warnings were issued in spring 2015 to warn

municipalities and residents about rising waters and where

local flooding may occur

• 16 sites monitored for water levels

• 6 sites monitored for precipitation

• 6 sites monitored for snow pack

Stream Monitoring• 261 stream surveys completed on Barrhaven Creek,

Bilberry Creek, Mosquito Creek and Stillwater Creek

as part of the City Stream Watch Program; 941 hours

of volunteer work by 315 volunteers

• 660 stream surveys completed on the Jock River,

Kings Creek, Marborough Creek and Nichols Creek

• 35 headwater drainage feature assessments on

City Stream Watch streams and 142 headwater

sampling sites in the Jock River subwatershed

• 49 fish sampling sites and 15 water temperature

probes installed in the Jock River subwatershed

• 61 fish sampling sessions on Barrhaven Creek,

Bilberry Creek, Mosquito Creek and Stillwater Creek as

part of the City Stream Watch Program

• 5 garbage cleanups completed on Barrhaven Creek,

Bilberry Creek and Sawmill Creek; 9 invasive species

removals completed on Bilberry Creek, Sawmill Creek,

Pinecrest Creek, Nepean Creek, Black Rapids Creek

and the Rideau River as part of the City Stream Watch

stewardship projects

Ground Water Monitoring• 16 provincial groundwater monitoring network (PGMN) wells

maintained at 13 locations — groundwater levels and

temperature are recorded hourly; manual groundwater levels

are measured quarterly; approximately 50 groundwater

quality parameters are analysed annually; 3 locations

measure barometric pressure and air temperature hourly;

2 locations record rainfall hourly

• Baseflow sampling and analysis done in Jock River

subwatershed

Haggart Island newrocky ramp

Motts Mills dam replacement

Britannia Villageflood control

City Stream Watch

Fish Sampling

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RVCA

2015

Monitoring in action

Snowsurvey

Surface Water Quality Monitoring• 360 hours donated by 25+ lake steward volunteers to help

monitor and sample Watershed Watch lakes

• 45 stream sites (spring and fall) and 2 lake sites (spring) sampled

for water quality conditions using the Ontario Benthos

Biomonitoring Network methodology (biology)

• 39 lakes monitored 4 times each from May to November to

sample nutrients, E. coli and key physical parameters through the

Watershed Watch Program

• 55 sites sampled for the RVCA Baseline Monitoring Program and

Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Program which monitors the

water chemistry on major tributary streams each month from April

to November

• 30 water quality parameters are analysed annually

• Additional sampling taken in response to algae blooms

Watershed Reporting• Rideau Lakes Subwatershed Report completed

• 8 Rideau Lakes catchment reports completed

Partnerships/Outreach• In partnership with Friends of the Tay, the People, Aquatic Plants

and Healthy Lakes Project participated in the Stewart Park Music

Festival, Tay Watershed Discovery Day, Bobs Lake Flotilla

and Lake Links

• 8 lake/property owner associations annual general meetings attended

• Assisted with sediment cores on approximately 30 lakes led by

Dr. Vermaire at Carleton University, work was a joint effort between

Watershed Watch and People, Aquatic Plants and Healthy Lakes

collaborative group and Dr. Vermaire’s students

Municipal Levy $5,103,500

Reserves $235,197

Program Revenue $3,131,904

Foundation Revenue $549,730

Provincial Grants $360,8722015 Revenues

Special Levy $804,347

Corporate Services $858,713

Watershed Science& Engineering Services

Stewardship Services $1,798,419

2015 Expenses

$3,185,581

Planning Advisory &Regulatory Services $1,633,756

Capital $1,480,805

$1,274,776Conservation Land

Management Services(does not include amortization)

$10,230,550

$10,232,050

Financing Conservation (Unaudited)

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Highlights for 2015: • We are very pleased to join our partners Leeds and County

Stewardship Council, RVCA, South Kanata Development

Corporation, Wildlife Habitat Canada and Ducks Unlimited

Canada in completing the Motts Mills Dam Construction Project.

• We are pleased to welcome Vélofix as our newest corporate

citizen that has made parts of their local operation “carbon

neutral” in 2015 through tree planting.

• We are grateful to the many staff and their families who

contribute to our Carbon Neutral Program.

• We continue to enjoy the confidence of several land

development companies who use the Foundation’s Species at

Risk Compensation Program services to compensate for the

unavoidable loss of butternut or bobolink during their business

activities. We are currently managing 32 projects.

• We are fortunate to have the continuing support of over 25 local

businesses all of whom are recognized on our famous “Partners

in Conservation” wall in our Manotick office.

• We are delighted that Mattamy Homes, who recently acquired

Monarch Homes, is upholding Monarch’s long and generous

history with a major donation to the RVCF’s Environmental Land

Fund. This fund is used to help pay the costs associated with

land donations including legal fees, appraisals and surveys. It is

instrumental in securing environmental land for future

conservation use by the people of the Rideau watershed in

Eastern Ontario.

• We proudly congratulate our partners at RVCA for

planting their 5 millionth tree this year

• We are equally proud to join our Shoreline

Naturalization Program partners helping to plant

over 7,200 trees and shrubs on 71 planting sites.

• Foundation endowment funds continue to grow

providing some very welcome revenue streams

for land and water conservation work throughout

the valley.

RVCA

2015

We are a local, accountable, registered environmental charity

dedicated to supporting on-the-ground conservation

projects right here in the Rideau River valley. For the

comfort and confidence of our many donors, the

Conservation Foundation is a proud and

practicing member of Imagine Canada and the

Ontario and Canada Land Trust Alliances.

These respected philanthropic groups

provide training, guidance and certification

in fair accounting, fundraising and land

acquisition practices.

The Foundation Board of Directors

would like to thank the staff and

Board of the Conservation Authority

for all of their generous support and

encouragement in 2015. We are

honoured to recognize the RVCA as

our biggest supporter and our major

conservation partner. It is a

pleasure to acknowledge and

thank the many hundreds of

generous and community-

minded people who made

a gift to conservation in

2015. Thanks to your

help, the Foundation

surpassed its fundraising

goal in 2015! We sincerely

appreciate your continuing

confidence in our

conservation programs.

Jason W.M. Kelly, Chair

Dan Cooper, Executive Director

How toreach us

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

3889 Rideau Valley Drive, P.O. Box 599

Manotick ON K4M 1A5

T 613-692-3571 | 800-267-3504F 613-692-0831

info @rvca.ca

www.rvca.ca

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation

2015 RVCF Board of Directors

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Board of Directors• Bryan Baker

• Charles Billington

• Mary A. Bryden (Past Chair)

• Angela Deguire (Secretary Treasurer)

• Andrew Harkness (Vice Chair)

• Jason W.M. Kelly (Chair)

• Anne Simmering

• R.E. (Bob) Smith

• Katherine Thomas

• Leann Thompson

• Rich Wilson

Love this beautiful old

valley like we do? We would

be pleased to talk to you about a

gift to conservation whether of

property, funds or in-kind services …

please call or write for confidential advice

and opportunities. We can match your gift

objectives with some very meaningful and long

lasting conservation projects that all will enjoy …

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© Rideau Valley

Conservation Authority,

February 2016

Printed on recycled paper